Mumonkan - Case 6: Buddha Twirls a Flower

When Buddha was in Grdhrakuta mountain he turned a flower in his fingers and
held in before his listeners. Every one was silent. Only Maha-Kashapa smiled
at this revelation, although he tried to control the lines of his face.

Buddha said:
  "I have the eye of the true teaching, the heart of Nirvana, the true aspect
   of non-form, and the ineffable stride of Dharma. It is not expressed by
   words, but especially transmitted beyond teaching. This teaching I have
   given to Maha-Kashapa.' 


Mumon's Comment:

Golden-faced Guatama thought he could cheat anyone. He made the good
listeners as bad, and sold dog meat under the sign of mutton. And he himself
thought it was wonderful. What if all the audience had laughed together?
How could he have transmitted the teaching? And again, if Maha-Kashapa had
not smiled, how could he have transmitted the teaching? If he says that
realization can be transmitted, he is like the city slicker that cheats the
country dub, and if he says it cannot be transmitted, why does he approve
of Maha-Kashapa?

    At the turning of a flower
    His diguise was exposed.
    No one is heaven or earth can surpass
    Maha-Kashapa's wrinkled face.

[other traduction of Mumon's poem:
    At the turning of a flower,
    The snake (his disguise) shows his tail.
    Maha-Kashapa smiles,
    Every monk does not know what to do. ]
